Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Second Week of Lent | USCCB
In our first reading from Genesis, we hear the
familiar story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. As we hear in
the story, their father loved Joseph more than the other brothers, and, because
of this, the brothers were jealous. Further, Joseph had dreams that showed that
God favored him over the other brothers. They hated him for it and were envious.
Family jealousies will always tear families apart, maybe
not to the point of wishing the family member dead but just wishing them to be
gone from our lives. What the story of Joseph and his brothers is teaching us
is that we should attempt to bring reconciliation and forgiveness to all those
in our lives, family or otherwise. We should never wish harm on anyone, but
rather pray for them and for healing in our relationship.
Hatred and bitterness within a family is not pleasing
to God. We are called to love all those in our lives, especially in our
families, and to wish no harm upon them. Joseph, in all innocence, loved his
brothers, even though they treated him poorly. Eventually, later in Genesis, as
Joseph rose to an important position in Egypt, he would be reunited with his
father and his brothers. They needed his help and Joseph was able to help them.
Joseph, in the spirit of love and forgiveness that God expects of each one of
us, forgives his brothers of what they did to him. Instead of seeking revenge,
Joseph forgave them for the wrong they did.
This coincides with the love and forgiveness of Jesus
Christ on the Cross. He was put to death out of jealousy by the scribes and
Pharisees. They saw the love and respect the people were giving to Jesus
throughout His ministry, and how he was bringing people back into relationship
with God. These are the people that the scribes and Pharisees looked down upon
most: people that they considered to be great sinners and not deserving of the
love and forgiveness of God. Yet, from the cross, even though they put Him
there out of jealously, Jesus prayed to God for the scribes and Pharisees:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
We, like Joseph in the first reading, and Jesus from
the Cross, are to forgive all those in our lives that have hurt us. True love
and forgiveness can bring peace and reconciliation to us and the joy that can
only come from God when we love and forgive all those in our lives that have
hurt us.
Let us pray for the gift of love and forgiveness for
all those who may have hurt us in our lives: “Lord, help us become quick to
repent and eager to forgive. Amen.”
Yes, I remember studying the story of Joseph even back in Catholic grammar school & how Joseph was innocent but almost killed by & then instead sold into slavery by his jealous brothers but yet forgave them & wound up saving his family & everyone in Egypt. I remember it being impressed upon us how Joseph PREFIGURED JESUS CHRIST. Joseph always trusted in GOD, Who remained with him to help him in his many trials & disappointments & he had the insight & wisdom to tell his brothers long after he had forgiven them, "You meant it for evil, but GOD meant it for good." It is when we trust GOD & understand that GOD can take even the worst circumstances that He has not caused but has allowed to happen to us for our good, for His glory & for the good of others, that we are enabled to give others the forgiveness that GOD wishes us to give to those who have harmed us.
ReplyDeleteI know I always feel disappointed that Judah,one of the unrighteous & undeserving brothers, wound up being a direct ancestor of Our LORD JESUS instead of the righteous Joseph, who was more deserving of this honor because he was so much like Our LORD. But GOD had his reasons. Maybe it was because Joseph was the son of Rachel, whom Jacob married while he was still married to Leah.
When people hurt us, let us look to the LORD & trust that He will turn it all to good & use this hurt to help us grow in faith & become BETTER INSTEAD OF BITTER & give us the grace we need to extend mercy & forgiveness to them.